Do you get bladder stones? (Bladder Stones) Let's find out everything about this!

Do you also feel like you need to urinate frequently? Or do you experience burning or pain when you urinate? Have you ever noticed a little blood in your urine? Don't ignore these things, thinking that they are normal. Because they could be a sign that you may have bladder stones. Don't worry, we will talk about this in a clear and simple way.

What are bladder stones?

Simply put, bladder stones are hard, stone-like lumps that form inside our bladder (the organ where we collect and store urine). It's like when we put sugar in a glass of water, sugar crystals form at the bottom after a while.

Our urine contains things like minerals that our body doesn't need. Normally, these things are passed out of our body when we urinate. However, if your bladder doesn't empty completely after you urinate and a small amount of urine remains, those minerals can accumulate, clump together, and eventually form stones. This is what we call bladder stones, or in medical terms, `(Bladder Calculi)`.

What are the symptoms if you have bladder stones?

Sometimes these stones are very small. You may not even notice that they are there and they can pass out with your urine. However, if the stone gets a little bigger, it can hit the walls of the bladder, causing irritation and various discomforts.

Let's take a look at the main symptoms in the table below.

Why do we get these bladder stones? What are the main causes?

As we discussed earlier, the main cause is the bladder not emptying completely. There are several factors that can contribute to this.

Enlarged Prostate

This is the main reason why men develop bladder stones. As they age, especially after the age of 50, the prostate gland in men becomes slightly enlarged. This is called Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH). Imagine someone squeezing a water pipe. Since the prostate gland surrounds the urethra, when it enlarges, it compresses the urethra and obstructs the flow of urine. This makes it impossible to empty the bladder completely.

Neurogenic Bladder

Our bladder is controlled by nerve messages from the brain. When these nerves are damaged due to conditions like spinal cord injury or stroke, the bladder doesn't receive the signals properly. This can cause the bladder to not empty completely and lead to stones.

Kidney Stones

Sometimes a kidney stone can travel down the ureter with the urine and into the bladder. Small stones like these usually pass out with the urine. But sometimes the stone can get stuck in the bladder and accumulate more minerals over time, turning into a larger stone.

Drinking less water (Dehydration)

If you drink less water per day, your urine becomes very concentrated. That means less water and more minerals. Then the risk of those minerals accumulating and forming stones is much higher.

Other medical reasons

• Bladder surgery: The risk of stone formation may increase after some bladder surgeries (Augmentation Cystoplasty).
• Bladder Diverticula: Small pouches in the bladder wall that can trap urine and form stones.
• Medical devices: If things like catheters are left in the bladder for a long time, minerals can build up on them and form stones.

How does a doctor find this?

Once you tell us about your symptoms, the doctor will examine you and may then do several tests to confirm the condition.

1. Urinalysis: A sample of your urine is taken and checked for blood, infection, and stones.

2. Imaging Tests: A CT scan, X-ray , or ultrasound scan can clearly see the size, shape, and location of the stones inside the bladder.

3. Cystoscopy: This involves passing a thin, flexible tube with a camera attached through the urethra into the bladder to look directly for stones. Although this may be a little uncomfortable, it is very important to accurately diagnose the disease.

What are the treatments for bladder stones?

Often, bladder stones need to be removed. This is treated by a specialist doctor, a urologist.

• Cystolitholapaxy: This is the most commonly used procedure. A cystoscope (a camera tube) is inserted into the bladder to locate the stone, and a laser or ultrasound is used to break the stone into small pieces. The crushed pieces are then flushed out with a solution.
• Open Surgery: If the stone is too large to be broken up using the above methods, surgery may be required to remove the stone through a small incision in the abdomen. If you have stones due to BPH, sometimes the part of the prostate that is blocking the flow of urine can also be removed during the same surgery.

Can we prevent the formation of bladder stones?

Yes, we can reduce this risk to a large extent.

Additionally, if you have an underlying condition like BPH, it's essential to get it treated properly. Otherwise, if you just remove the stones, you're more likely to develop them again.

It is also important to be careful about what you eat and drink. Staying away from the following foods as much as possible will help reduce the risk of stone formation.

These foods are high in salt (sodium) and sugar, which can contribute to stone formation.

Bladder Stones, Bladder Inflammation, Blood in Urine, Prostate, BPH, Men's Health, Bladder Stone Treatment, Urologist